EP0302796B1

EP0302796B1 - Mailer obtained from a continuous web

Info

Publication number: EP0302796B1
Application number: EP88402037A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wilbur P. Hutchinson; Olivier Juteau
Original assignee: Moore Business Forms Inc
Current assignee: Moore Business Forms Inc
Priority date: 1987-08-05
Filing date: 1988-08-04
Publication date: 1993-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-04
Also published as: EP0302796A2; DE3883663T2; DE3883663D1; EP0302796A3

Description

The present invention relates to a mailer obtained from a continuous web by cutting the latter into sheets of equal lengths, folding these sheets into panels of shorter length, and bonding these panels to one another.
Others have earlier thought to provide mailer by folding over sheets of paper in various ways, see US-A-3,352,481, US-A-894,124, US-A-1,794,223, US-A-2,773,638 and US-A-3,352,481. However, US-A-1,803,704 involves a Z-fold configuration. It has a full length third flap, and requires side flaps for securing the mailer together. US-A-3,152,800 also involves a Z-fold configuration. It not only has a full length third flap, but two additional longitudinal flaps as well.
In the patent FR-A-2,431,964 the Applicant described an enveloppe of the type indicated above, which is obtained by folding each length of web into three panels of equal length with the aid of a Z-fold with the panels bonded to one another, one of the panels carrying the address on one face and the other panels carrying information on the same face, the address and the information being printed in the course of the same passage through a printer. This envelope, which has the advantage of being made from a single continuous web, has the disadvantage that it is not possible to insert a document into it after the folding and the bonding of a part of the envelope.
FR-A-2,323,612 discloses a plurality of types of mailings with two panels (figures 3a, 3b; 4a, 4b; 5a, 5b; 6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) three panels (figures 10a, 10b; 11a, 11b) or four panels (figures 12a, 12b, 12c). Obviously, a problem of saving of paper should be better solved by two-panels mailings, buts, in such cases, D2 provides a window 22, that is costly. This document does not disclose nor suggest the problem of saving paper and reducing the cost by this way.
US-A-3,652,007 discloses, figures 1-6, the preparation and use of a mailing enveloppe which initially has four panels of substiantially same length. After a first mailing, as first panel and a part of the opposite panel are teared off and disposed, the two other panels are used for forming a return envelope which is closed by the remaining part of the said opposite panel. The teared-off panel and part of panel may bear advertising and an address, that means that they are poorly used. This document does not suggest to reduce the costs by saving paper.
The object of the invention is to reduce the cost of a mailer or envelope by the maximum saving of paper.
For obtaining this result, the invention provides a mailer obtained from a continuous web having front and rear surfaces, by cutting the latter along transverse cutting lines into sheets of equal length, folding these sheets along two transverse fold lines into three panels, namely a first middle panel, a second panel of the same length as the first one or slightly shorter longitudinally, and a third panel joined to the first panel on the opposite side to the second panel, said third panel being smaller longitudinally than the first panel,
said first and second panels carrying a text area on their front surface, and said third panel carrying an address area on its front surface,
the second panel having on its front face longitudinal lines of adhesion close to each of its longtitudinal edges, and a transverse line of adhesion along the cutting line which limits it, said second panel being folded onto and bonded to said first panel along said lines of adhesion, the first panel being joined to said third panel along a transverse folding line, said third panel having on its rear face longitudinal lines of adhesion close to each of its longitudinal edges, and a transverse line of adhesion close to the cutting line which limits it, whereby the sheet may be Z-folded to place the text area sealed on the inside and the address area on the outside of the mailer,
longitudinal lines of weakness being provided along the edges of the sheet and inside relative to the longitudinal adhesive lines for permitting the mailer to be opened by the user tearing off the marginal regions,
transverse lines of weakness being provided, respectively, in the first and second panels parallel to the fold line which joins the first and third panels and to the cutting line which limits the second panel, the line of weakness in the second panel being located inside of the corresponding adjacent transverse adhesion line and a third transverse line of weakness being provided in the third panel, the fold line being equally spaced from the transverse lines of weakness whereby the said transverse lines of weakness are superimposed after Z-folding the sheet about said fold line.
Preferably, if the mailer is obtained from a continuous web provided on its margins with drive perforations, the longitudinal lines of adhesion on said continuous web are placed further inside than said drive perforations, so that the latter can be removed before despatch of the envelope.
It is also preferred that the longitudinal lines of adhesion of the first and second panels consist of an adhesive material which adheres to itself through pressure and/or heating.
Illustrative embodiments of the present invention will next be provided, with reference to accompagnying drawings.

Figure 1 is a view of the front side of a sheet from which a mailer is constructed,
Figure 2 is a view of the rear surface of the sheet of Figure 1, turned over from left to right,
Figure 3 shows the mailer which results from the Z-folding of the sheet of Figures 1 and 2,

Referring to the drawings 1 to 4, the mailer 10 is made up of a sheet of paper 12 having a top edge 14, a bottom edge 16, a side edge 18 and a side edge 20. Detachable margins 22 with tractor holes (drive perforations) 24 therein may be used for handling in automated processing equipment.
As the mailer is formed the first step will be printing on the front surface (Fig. 1). Address information will be printed on a top area 26, while text information will be printed on a mid-area 28 and on a bottom area 30. This printing may be done by the computerized variable printing process if desired.
The next step in forming the mailer will be to place strips of heat seal adhesive on the paper 12. Strips 32, 34 and 36 are placed along the borders of the front surface of the bottom area 30, as shown in Figure 1, for adhering on corresponding lines of adhesion 33, 35, 37 of the mid-area 28. Strips 38 and 40 are placed at the sides of the rear surface of top area 26, as shown in Figure 2. Also, a strip of adhesive 41 may be placed (but not required) on the rear surface along the top edge.
It will be understood that the strips of adhesive adjacent the respective side edges may be placed anywhere along the edges so long as there will be adequate adhesive to properly seal the mailer when completed to satisfy users and postal authorities. In other words, the adhesive may be intermittent, such as dots. When "strip" of adhesive is used in the appended claims such intermittent coverage is included.
Similarly, when "line of adhesion" is used it is to be understood that such a line may carry a strip or dots of adhesive, but it may not carry any adhesive but be intended to adhere to an adhesive carried by a corresponding part of another panel.
To facilitate opening of the mailer, as described hereinafter, lines of weakening (perforation lines) 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50 are provided.
Figure 3 shows the mailer folded and ready for mailing. The manner of folding is shown in Figure 4. There are two folds, one along line 52, and the other along line 54. The directions of folding are shown by the arrows in Figure 4. The mid-area, bottom area and top area correspond respectively to the first, second and third panels as above mentionned.
The top area 26 of the mailer is substantially of less height than the area 28 and 30 (which are of equal height). The height of the top area need only be enough for receiving address information and meet postal specifications.
If the lines of weakness 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50 are created in the sheet 12, the envelope may be opened by the user tearing off the marginal regions. The usual legend, "To Open Tear Along Dotted Line" may be printed along the vertical margins of the completed mailer, albeit in that case some printing would be necessary on the rear surface of the sheet 12.
It will be noted that the mailer 10 is constructed from a rectangular (or square) sheet of paper, with no need for special cutting to provide side flaps.
All of the adhesive strips lie along the edges of the sheets, rather than being on side flaps or the like.

Claims

Mailer (10) obtained from a continuous web having front and rear surfaces, by cutting the latter along transverse cutting lines (14, 16) into sheets (12) of equal length, folding these sheets along two transverse fold lines (52, 54) into three panels, namely a first middle panel (28), a second panel (30) of the same length as the first one or slightly shorter longitudinally, and a third panel (26) joined to the first panel on the opposite side to the second panel, said third panel (26) being smaller longitudinally than the first panel (28),
said first and second panels carrying a text area on their front surface, and said third panel carrying an address area on its front surface,
the second panel having on its front face longitudinal lines of adhesion ( 32, 34) close to each of its longtitudinal edges, and a transverse line of adhesion (36) along the cutting line (16) which limits it, said second panel being folded onto and bonded to said first panel along said lines of adhesion, the first panel being joined to said third panel along a transverse folding line (54),
said third panel having on its rear face longitudinal lines (38, 40) of adhesion close to each of its longitudinal edges, and a transverse line of adhesion (41) close to the cutting line (14) which limits it, whereby the sheet may be Z-folded to place the text area sealed on the inside and the address area on the outside of the mailer,
longitudinal lines of weakness (42, 44) being provided along the edges of the sheet and inside relative to the longitudinal adhesive lines (32, 34) for permitting the mailer to be opened by the user tearing off the marginal regions,
- transverse lines of weakness (46, 50) being provided, respectively, in the first and second panels (28, 30) parallel to the fold line (54) which joins the first and third panels and to the cutting line (16) which limits the second panel, the line of weakness (46) in the second panel being located inside of the corresponding adjacent transverse adhesion line (36) and a third transverse line of weakness (48) being provided in the third panel (26), the fold line (54) being equally spaced from the transverse lines of weakness (48, 50) whereby the said transverse lines of weakness (46, 48, 50) are superimposed after Z-folding the sheet about said fold line (52) and (54).
A mailer as claimed in claim 1 and obtained from a continuous web provided on its margins with drive perforations (24) characterized in that the longitudinal lines of adhesion (32-35, 38) on said continuous web are placed further inside than said drive perforations, so that the latter can be removed before despatch of the envelope.